Abstract

Background

Nm23 protein is a metastasis suppressor protein, expressed in all tissues. Reduced
Nm23 expression is related to a high incidence of lymph node and distant metastasis
and poor prognosis in patients with cancers. The present study was done to analyze
the expression of Nm23 using immunohistochemistry in non-neoplastic and neoplastic
breast lesions.

Results

Nm23 expression in these groups showed a progressive down regulation with increasing
neoplastic transformation. On comparing the various groups, nm23 expression was significantly
different between the various subgroups with greatest expression in non-proliferative
lesions and least in metastatic deposits (p < 0.050).

Conclusion

It is concluded that the modulation of nm23 in a spectrum of breast lesions can be
indicative of metastatic phenotype and help to predict the aggressiveness of disease.